Stiko recommends the fourth coronavirus vaccination from the age of 60 - Lauterbach welcomes the decision
Created: 08/18/2022, 17:40
The Standing Vaccination Committee (Stiko) of the Robert Koch Institute recommends the fourth vaccination from the age of 60 (symbol image).
© Frank Hoermann/SVEN SIMON / Imago
The Standing Vaccination Commission now officially recommends a second corona booster vaccination for people aged 60 and over.
Federal Health Minister Lauterbach welcomed the move.
Berlin – Federal Minister of Health Karl Lauterbach (SPD) has long advised people over the age of 60 to get the fourth vaccination, just like EU authorities.
After carefully examining the current data situation, the Standing Vaccination Committee (Stiko) of the Robert Koch Institute is now officially recommending the second corona booster for people over 60 years of age.
Stiko recommends a fourth vaccination for people aged 60 and over and those with previous illnesses aged five and over
People aged 60 and over and people aged five and over with an increased risk of severe Covid-19 courses as a result of an underlying disease should receive another booster, according to a Stiko statement on Thursday.
The committee thus expanded its previous recommendation “with the primary aim of protecting particularly vulnerable people even better against severe Covid 19 diseases and Covid 19-related deaths”.
So far, Stiko had only recommended the second booster to people over the age of 70, people in care facilities, people with an immune deficiency and an increased risk of severe Covid 19 courses from the age of five and employees in medical facilities and care facilities.
Federal Minister of Health Lauterbach was satisfied with the decision: "I'm glad that Stiko took this important step today, which I think was due," he told the online portal
t-online
on Thursday.
“The vaccines we have available reliably protect against death and serious illness.
I strongly advise citizens over 60 to follow the Stiko recommendation and not wait for the new vaccines," Lauterbach continued.
Timo Ulrichs, epidemiologist and professor at the Berlin University of Human Sciences, does not go far enough with the decision.
The timing of the fourth vaccination is crucial: at least six months after the last infection or vaccination
The Stiko advises another booster, preferably with an mRNA vaccine, after "three immunological events" - for example after a primary immunization followed by a first booster vaccination or a primary immunization and subsequent Sars-CoV-2 infection.
The condition for the booster vaccination from the age of 60 is usually that the first booster vaccination or the last coronavirus infection was at least six months ago.
According to Stiko, the interval can only be reduced to four months in justified individual cases.
The risk groups mentioned should therefore not wait for an adapted vaccine, the committee continued.
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Stiko recommends Novavax for primary immunization for adolescents aged 12 and over
In the updated Stiko recommendation, the committee also advocates the use of the protein vaccine from Novavax for primary immunization for young people from the age of twelve - previously it was only recommended from the age of 18.
Two doses should be given at least three weeks apart.
In addition to vaccination, Stiko now recommends the antibody preparation Evusheld as a preventive measure to special groups aged twelve and over.
It consists of two Sars-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies.
